excrete

verb

ex·​crete ik-ˈskrēt 

excreted; excreting

transitive verb

: to separate and eliminate or discharge (waste) from the blood, tissues, or organs or from the active protoplasm

excreter noun

Examples of excrete in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The species were hunted to extinction in the area in the 16th century, driven by a demand for their fur, meat and castoreum, which is a chemical excreted from a gland at the base of their tails that was used for food flavoring, as well as the perfume industry, per the outlet. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026

This pair of organs is responsible for filtering and excreting drugs from your body. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 7 Apr. 2026

There is also growing worry about pharmaceutical drugs that get into the water supply because humans excrete them and conventional wastewater treatment plants fail to remove them. —ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026

When sodium intake falls, the kidneys excrete excess fluid, lowering blood pressure. —Md Published, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin excretus, past participle of excernere to sift out, discharge, from ex- + cernere to sift — more at certain

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excrete

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

excrete

verb

ex·​crete ik-ˈskrēt 

excreted; excreting

: to separate and remove (waste produced by cellular activity) from the living body

urea is excreted by the kidneys in urine

Medical Definition

excrete

transitive verb

ex·​crete ik-ˈskrēt 

excreted; excreting

: to separate and eliminate or discharge (waste) from the blood, tissues, or organs or from the active protoplasm